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This newsreel from 1975 documents a meeting between Pakistani leader Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Afghan leader Daoud Khan. The meeting represented a historic rapprochement between the two countries, but this move towards friendship was never pursued, because both leaders were killed shortly thereafter.

With the invitation of Mr. Mohammad Daoud, the Head of Government and Prime Minister, Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the Prime Minister of Pakistan traveled to Afghanistan for an official visit on 17th of Jawza 1355 (7th June, 1976). He was received at the Kabul international airport by the leader of revolution Mr. Mohammad Daoud. Mr. Mohammad Daoud, our national leader, welcomes his guests near the airplane. At this time, Mr. Abdul Qadeer, Minister of Interior Affairs and Mr. Wahid Abdullah, Deputy Foreign Minister were accompanying the Head of the Government and the Prime Minister.

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After the Prime Minister and the Head of the Government of Afghanistan fulfilled his official duties towards the Prime Minister of Pakistan and the Prime Minister of Pakistan introduced his accompanying delegation to the founder of the Republic of Afghanistan, the Prime Minister and the Head of the Government and his guests went towards the Ceremonial Guard and took their stand. The music band played the national anthems of Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Head of the Government and Prime Minister of Afghanistan and the Prime Minister of Pakistan then received the tributes of the Ceremonial Guard and observed them. A number of children representing residents of Kabul presented bouquets flowers to Mr. Bhutto. Then, our national leader leaded his guest towards the welcoming delegation and Mr. Bhutto greeted Dr. Mohammad Hasan Sharq, the first deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Sayed Abdul Elah, the second deputy and Minister of Finance, some of the members of the Cabinet and Central Committee, Republican Army Generals and heads of Corps Diplomatic. Pakistani Prime Minister, Mr. Bhutto's accompanying delegation members were: Mr. Aziz Ahmad, Minister of State for Defense and the External Affairs, Mr. Mohammad Yousuf Vajh, special deputy of the Prime Minister, Mr. Agha Shahi, Secretary of Ministry of External Affairs, Mr. S. Shahnawaz, Secretary of Ministry of External Affairs of Pakistan, and Mr. M. Ismael, the Head of Protocol.

After airport ceremony, Mr. Mohammad Daoud and Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto were taken to the place of residence of the Pakistani guests in the special car while they were escorted by a group of police motorcycles.

Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, met Mr. Mohammad Daoud, the Prime Minister and the Head of Government of Afghanistan in Gulkhana Palace of Republic citadel at 4:00 pm on 17th Jawza (7th June).

On the night of 17th Jawza (7th June) at 8:00 pm, a banquet was organized by Mr. Mohammad Daoud, the Prime Minister and the Head of the Government, in the honor of Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the Prime Minister of Pakistan. The reception was organized in the place of banquet hall of Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In this banquets, Mr. Mohammad Naeem, Dr. Mohammad Hasan Sharq, the first deputy of the Prime Minister, Mr. Sayed Abdul Elah, the second deputy and the Finance Minister, some of the members of the Cabinet and Central Committee, some of the generals, the corps diplomatic residing in Kabul and some of the members of the Pakistani Prime Minister's delegation, the Ambassador of Pakistan in Kabul and some of the embassy staffs of that country were attending.

A lunch banquet was organized by Dr. Mohammad Hasan Sharq, the First Deputy of the Prime Minister, in the honor of Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on 18th Jawza (8th June) at noon in Paghman Hill Garden. In this invitation, Mr. Sayed Abdul Elah, the second Deputy and the Minister of Finance, some of the members of the Cabinet and Central Committee, some of high rank army and civil officials and accompanying delegation of the Prime Minister of Pakistan were attending. Mr. Mohammad Daoud, the Head of the Government and the Prime Minister and Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the Prime Minister of Pakistan met each other at 10:30 am, in the morning of 18th Jawza (8th June) in Gulkhana Palace and negotiations began and ended in a friendly atmosphere.

Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the Prime Minister of Pakistan traveled to the center of province of Bamian in order to visit the historical sites and monuments of Bamian; he was taken to the center of the province by Bakhtar Afghan Airlines. He was welcomed by the Governor and government officials of Bamian Province at the Bamian Airport. In this trip some of the members of Mr. Bhutto's accompanying delegation were accompanying him. They were also accompanied by Mr. Wahid Abdullah, Deputy of Ministry of External Affairs, Dr. Mohammad Anas, the head of hospitality of delegation, the Ambassador of Pakistan in Kabul, Charges D'affaires of Afghanistan in Islamabad.

As the image shows, the Pakistani delegation was taken to visit the Buddhas of Bamiyan, giving us a glimpse of another face that would soon vanish into memory and legend.

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The last round of negotiations between Mr. Mahammad Daoud, Head of the Government and the Prime Minister of Afghanistan, and Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the Prime Minister of Pakistan took place in Gulkhana Palace in Republic Citadel and in a friendly and amicable environment. On behalf of Afghan government in these negotiations Dr. Mohammad Hasan Sharq, First Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Sayed Abdul Elah, the Second Deputy and the Finance Minister, Mr. Wahid Abdullah, the Deputy of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, and Mr. Abdul Samad Ghous, General Director of Political Affairs of the said ministry were participating. On behalf of Pakistani government Mr. Aziz Ahmad, Minister of State for Defense and External Affairs, Mr. Mohammad Yousuf Vajh, the Special Advisor of the Prime Minister, and Mr. Agha Shahi, Secretary of Pakistan Ministry of External Affairs were participating in these negotiations. In the invitation in the honor of Mr. Mohammad Daoud, Head of the Government and the Prime Minster, by Mr. Bhutto, Pakistani Prime Minister in Intercontinental Hotel Mr. Mohammad Naeem, Dr. Mohmmad Hasan Sharq, the First Deputy of the Prime Minister, Mr. Sayed Abdul Elah, the Second Deputy and the Finance Minister, some of the members of the Cabinet and Central Committee, Republican Army Generals and some of the heads of corps diplomatic participated.

In this reception, Mr. Bhutto, the Pakistani Prime Minister, stated that: "I traveled to Afghanistan to resolve the issues between the two countries. We exchanged views about these issues and the negotiations in a friendly environment prepared a very positive ground for the understanding of many of facts in understanding the context of this issue". In return, Mr. Mohammad Daoud, our national leader stated, "during the visit of Mr. Bhutto to Afghanistan, our negotiations took place in a friendly environment and the two parties got a prefect understanding of reality of each other. Our Pakistani brothers would be assured by you and your delegation that Afghan nation do not have any desire but friendship and brotherhood with people of Pakistan."

Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, returned to his country on 21st Jawza (11th June). Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, bid farewell to Mr. Mohammad Naeem, Dr. Mohammad Hasan Sharq, the First Deputy of the Prime Minister, and Mr. Sayed Abdul Elah, the Second Deputy and the Finance minster, some of the members of the Cabinet and Central Committee, some of the Republican Army Generals, and some of the members of corps diplomatic community residing in Kabul and staffs of Pakistan Embassy in Kabul who attended the ceremony at the airport to bid farewell to their Prime Minister. Then the music of national anthems of Pakistan and Afghanistan were played and Mr. Bhutto observed and accepted the ceremonial guard tribute and respect.

Eventually, the Leader of Revolution, Mohammad Daoud accompanied his guest, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, close to his airplane and bid farewell to him.
The End